Cloncurry cheaper flights advocate Hamish Griffin has put the challenge out to the major airlines after one of the local mines agreed to take other passengers on their charter flights.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Griffin said after talks with MMG and Alliance Airlines that as of June 1, MMG Dugald River in conjunction with Alliance Airlines was making its Tuesday charter flight between Cloncurry and Townsville available to local residents.
A MMG spokesperson told the North West Star the program was designed so that the community can have access to cheaper flights between Cloncurry and Townsville.
"There are a limited number of seats available on each flight, but the program is intended to be permanent," the MMG spokesperson said.
"We have advised the Cloncurry Shire Council this week and will be promoting to local Cloncurry residents on our social media and with posters across the community. This should launch from the end of the week."
MMG said the flights can be booked online via Alliance website and will be $220 one way.
Seats can be booked up to three months in advance or the next day without changing the cost.
Mr Griffin, who raised the matter with MMG's Dugald River manager Sam Rodda when Mr Rodda was doing a presentation on their operation at Mount Isa MineX last week, said this was excellent news for Cloncurry residents.
"This is a great win for Cloncurry," Mr Griffin said.
"Thanks very much to Sam and the team at Dugald river for helping me with this, it is a great service and a huge step in the right direction,"
Mr Griffin said that that put the onus to respond squarely back on the two major players. "Virgin Australia and Qantas... you have some competition now so, I challenge you to match or better this fare," he said.
The North West Star has contacted Qantas and Virgin for comment.
The news comes as we await the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities after the federal election.
The inquiry has held hearings across the country, the most recent being in Canberra on April 1 with testimony from the ACCC and several government departments.
The ACCC told the Inquiry they had no powers to stop predatory pricing by airlines.
"The fact an operator sets a price the markets bears, doesn't act collusively, and doesn't act in a cartel, generally doesn't give rise to a breach of our act," the ACCC said.
READ ALSO: Winter has arrived in Mount Isa
While you are here subscribe to our weekly email to your inbox at 6am every Friday